Sentencing guidelines on pre-sentence reports updated ahead of Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Act 2025
The Sentencing Council has announced comprehensive amendments to existing sentencing guidelines in preparation for the passing of the Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill 2025. The changes, effective from 16 June 2025, expand requirements for pre-sentence reports across multiple offender categories including young adults, female offenders, and primary carers. They also expand on specific drop down explanations within various other guidelines and a revised imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline will take effect from 1 September 2025. The amendments aim to ensure courts have sufficient information about offenders' circumstances before sentencing, particularly for those at risk of receiving custodial sentences of two years or less.